Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, has thrown his weight behind the growing opposition to the potential reinstatement of Russia and Belarus into the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Speaking at a FIDE gala in Budapest on Thursday evening, Carlsen, who recently received an award for being the greatest player of all time, used his platform to advocate against the controversial proposal. He pointedly stated, “In Garry’s honour, I’m sure he would take the opportunity to advise against reinstating the Russian and Belarusian Chess Federation, so that is what I will do as well.” This statement was a clear reference to Russian Grandmaster Garry Kasparov, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a long-time exile from Russia, who also expressed his support for Carlsen’s stance on social media, affirming, “Indeed I would, and do!”
The upcoming vote on whether to readmit Russia and Belarus to FIDE is set to take place this weekend at the organization’s general assembly. The proposal, which originated in Kyrgyzstan, has sparked significant controversy within the chess community and drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine. Ukraine’s sports minister Matviy Bidny, in a Facebook post, lauded Carlsen’s stance and called for continued sanctions against Russia and Belarus, stating, “Sanctions against Russia and Belarus should only be strengthened as long as the war continues, as dictatorial regimes are trying to legitimise the war against Ukraine by using sport and athletes.”
Carlsen’s outspoken opposition, coupled with the vocal support from Kasparov, adds further pressure on FIDE as it prepares for the crucial vote. The decision, with potentially significant implications for the future of chess, will likely be a closely watched event in the world of sports.
